Hi David, Welcome to the list! I missed your first posting so I'm not sure what dates you're looking for. Since you have an Ancestry subscription, you ought to start by reading the chapter on Rhode Island in the Ancestry Red Book. You can access it online here: http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3249 and use "Rhode Island" under keyword(s). After the search results are shown, scroll down till you find the entry titled "Listing of Sources by State, Rhode Island, Vital Records, Other Ethnic Groups". That will give you a good overview of what records are available and where. Rhode Island's vital records are kept at the town level. However, since 1853, copies have been sent to the State. You can request copies from the Rhode Island State Archives (only 2 requests at a time, though). Here is what you'll get if you e-mail a question to the Archives (archives@courts.ri.gov): In reply to your inquiry I am forwarding a copy of our Vital Records Order Form and Guidelines. We ask that you use this form for your vital records requests. You may submit your inquiries / forms via this media but hard copies of all document found will be forwarded to you through the U.S. postal service. Please be advised, we do not send transcriptions of records via e-mail. Please allow 7-10 business days for receipt of response. Thank you for contacting the Rhode Island State Archives and best of luck in your research. Sincerely, Kenneth S. Carlson Reference Archivist Rhode Island State Archives 337 Westminster Street Providence, R.I. 02903 401-222-2353 401-222-3199 VITAL RECORDS ORDER GUIDELINES 1. All requests must be made on a Vital Records Order Form. 2. Only one type of record (e.g., birth, marriage, or death) for one name may be requested on a Form. 3. No more than two Vital Records Order Forms may be submitted at one time. Please wait for our response before sending further requests. 4. All requests for vital records must include an approximate date for the birth, marriage, or death sought. If you are unsure of the date, we ask that you include a five year period for the search (e.g., 1870-1875) as well as any information that will assist, such as parents' names, town/city of residence, etc. 5. Requests for vital records before 1853 must include the name of the city or town since no statewide index exists to facilitate a search of the early town records. 6. Photocopies of records will be provided at a cost of $.15 per page. Certified copies of state records (births, marriages, deaths recorded from 1853) can be provided at a cost of $2.00 per record. Requests for certification of pre-1853 vital records must be directed to the city or town that holds the original record. ****PLEASE DO NOT SEND MONEY**** **** YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY CHARGES*** Note: Rhode Island General Laws stipulate that all records of birth and marriage are closed for a period of one-hundred (100) years. Death records are restricted for a period of fifty (50) years. Records of birth, marriage, and death available at the State Archives are as follows: Town Vitals: Prior to 1853 - microfilm copies only. Original records are maintained by the individual cities and towns. Births and Marriages: 1853-1901 (statewide index available) Deaths: 1853-1951 (statewide index available) Requests for copies of statewide filings of births and marriages after 1901 and deaths after 1951 must be requested from the Department of Health Division of Vital Records Three Capitol Hill Providence, R.I. 02908 (401-222-2812) Arlan, our wonderful list administrator, has posted a copy of the Vital Records request form here: http://www.rootsweb.com/~rikent/vrform.htm Hope this helps! Judy Anthony Houston, Texas On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:48:57 +1030 "david cheek" <mcheek@bigpond.net.au> wrote: > Hi List > > Many thanks for those kind people who have contacted me off & on >list, it is > most appreciated, however, > > The RI data which is easily accessible I have recorded and >noted.....It is > the definitive detail which I wish to know where it can be obtained, >e.g. > does RI have a Births, Deaths & Marriages Registry where this data >is > located in a central point for access by the general public either >on or off > line???? > > Ancestry.com for all its bragging does not appear to me to have >definitive > data, example Births in RI from 1600 something to 1930, I enter a >know name > say in 1870 and it says no record, well then what does the heading >mean???? > Is there a depository with this data somewhere or not???? > > Sorry to sound pedantic, in Australia each State has its own BDM >Registry > office and holds ALL the data for that State!!!! Is there >something > similar in RI and/or its Counties??? > > I await your comments with interest....... > > Happy researching > > David Cheek - Adelaide - Australia > Protected by Norton Anti-Virus 2006 > Transcriber of Parish Registers in South West > Somerset and FreeBMD > > > > ==== RIGENWEB Mailing List ==== > Providence County RIGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~riprovid/ > Submit your Rhode Island Query at >http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/queries.html >